Atlantic League Chief Executive Officer and principal owner of multiple Atlantic League

Frank Boulton founded the Atlantic League in 1998. (Courtesy of the LIDucks.com)

franchises Frank Boulton spent a few minutes talking to Patriots Pulse prior to a Somerset Patriots-Long Island Ducks game earlier this week. Here is what he said about some topics making news around the league:

PP: The Opening Day Partners ownership group, which owns four Atlantic League teams, has talked about expanding the league to Sugar Land, Texas. As CEO, what are your thoughts on that idea?

FB: “We’re looking, and you have to look before you decide if something is economically viable. Have I given it my blessing? Yes. But does it make sense to go out there for just one team? No. I think you go out there with the mind of creating a division of four teams — probably two to start. That would allow us to travel there smart.”

“(The plan) is in pencil, not in pen. We would have to have a very, very strong airline partner and that’s sort of in the works. As crazy as it sounds at first, it’s not all that crazy.”

“I have a lot of things spinning around in my mind … but being creative is how we got to where we are.”

PP: You took over ownership of the financially struggling Newark Bears during the offseason. You did the same for the Bridgeport Bluefish when they faced similar straits before last season. Will Newark, which is under its third owner in as many years, follow the plan you laid out for Bridgeport last season?

FB: “If you looked at the marketing material, you would see it’s basically the same thing that we do here (in Long Island). We had part of the equation in Bridgeport last year and we saw a 20-25 percent increase in our sponsorship. A lot of work needs to be done in Newark, but last year at this time I wouldn’t have been sure Bridgeport would come along as quickly as it has. I think Newark has more upside potential than Bridgeport but we still have a lot of work to do.”

PP: There are rumors around the league that you sold some ownership of the Ducks during the offseason. What can you tell us about it?

FB: “I took on a partner, (Deutsche Bank Americas CEO) Seth Waugh. He is a part owner who is going to be involved … (but) I still control more than 50 percent of this team.”

“I’m just a busy guy. What it means is there was an opportunity for me to take on a really strong partner. He can be a good partner just in his connections alone.”